Celebrate the Holidays with These Activities in Fullerton, CA!
With lights, music, and cheer adorning the streets of Fullerton, CA, the most wonderful time of the year is upon us! With so many activities, shows and performances, shopping destinations, and volunteer opportunities, it can be easy to get overwhelmed this time of year.
We want to make your life as easy as possible; that’s why we’ve created this guide of some to our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays in the Fullerton area this time of year. Avoid the hustle and bustle by planning out how you want to spend your holiday season now before life gets too busy!
Activities
The Fullerton area offers a wide variety of activities this time of year! Whether you want to make memories, get creative with the family, or take a break to enjoy yourself, there’s sure to be something for you to do this holiday season in Fullerton, CA!
Knott’s Merry Farm: Knott’s Berry Farm may already be a favorite destination for you and your loved ones, but during the holiday season, it just gets better! From November 17 to January 7, Knott’s Merry Farm takes over the whole park, filling it with holiday lights, decor, food, treats, activities, and more. Knott’s Berry Farm is always fun for the whole family, and during the holiday season, it is even more memorable and magical! Check out this teaser video for a sneak peek of Knott’s Merry Farm!
Winter Fest OC: Just because you live in sunny Southern California doesn’t mean your family should be deprived of a super fun winter experience. If you feel the same way, then Orange County has just the extravaganza you’re looking for. This year’s Winter Fest runs from November 24 through January 7 and features over 1 million glorious lights, enough holiday decor to drive one giddy, a cornucopia of thrilling activities, a snow play area, a 150-foot tubing slide, a carnival, a holiday market, and plenty of food. Whew! Any Grinch’s heart would grow three sizes just typing that previous sentence!
New this year is the North Pole Journey, a one-of-a-kind winterland experience where wide-eyed participants learn exactly how to become an elf. Winter Fest OC will be chilling at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Tickets can be purchased here.
Nutcracker Holiday Village and Lighting: Happening this year on Sunday, December 3, this annual tradition is hosted by the City of Anaheim, the Downtown Anaheim Association, the Anaheim Community Foundation, and the Nutcracker Holiday Committee. Events include a dog costume contest, pictures with Santa, and the lighting of the tree at Feldhaus Circle, located at the corner of Clementine and Center Street Promenade. The event begins at 10 a.m. and continues through the tree-lighting ceremony, which will take place at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Shows and Performances
There’s nothing like a live performance to get you into the holiday spirit! The anticipation of the performers coming on stage, paired with shared excitement and enthusiasm throughout the audience, is something you can’t find anywhere else. Check out this list of holiday shows in Fullerton to see how you can get into the holiday spirit this year!
Holiday Concert on the Pier: What better way to get into the holiday spirit than enjoying a fun concert while donating to those in need? Head on over to Redondo Beach to enjoy a free afternoon full of holiday music and the spirit of giving. Simply bring a new, unwrapped children’s toy to donate to a child in need, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win prizes! This is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays while truly embracing the spirit of giving. It all goes down on December 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: Watching the same old Christmas plays year after year can get tiring. But have you ever heard of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, which is back for its 17th straight year? This wacky sci-fi film adapted for the stage is sure to be a performance that will get your whole family excited! Head on over to the Maverick Theater in Fullerton sometime between November 18 and December 23 to watch a play you’ll never forget!
Dickens Christmas Carol Singalong: The classic story of A Christmas Carol is a popular seasonal favorite, and the Charles Dickens Carolers have provided holiday cheer to the citizens of Anaheim and its surrounding cities since 1987. Dressed in traditional Dickensian costumes, this quartet sings traditional Christmas carols, popular holiday songs, and other children’s favorites in four-part harmony. This year’s singalong will take place on Sunday, December 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church in nearby Alhambra. This event is free and open to the public with an RSVP or $20 at the door on the day of the event.
Disney on Ice presents Encanto and Frozen: Set the mood for the holidays by checking out the blades of glory on display in the annual Disney on Ice spectacular. This is a show for the whole family, and let’s not hear any talk about being too busy. Between matinees and even shows, there are nine different performances December 14–18 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Kids will have a blast singing and dancing along with Mirabel and her sisters, Isabela and Luisa. Then they can join the race to find Elsa and end the eternal winter in this frigid holiday extravaganza. Enjoy a Disney event that you don’t have to wait in line for an hour to experience!
Shopping
Is there anything better than watching your loved ones’ faces light up as they unwrap a gift that you picked out for them? This holiday season, participate in the spirit of giving! Fullerton is lucky to have so many great and unique shops nearby. Check out the list below to find the perfect place to shop for your loved ones!
The Brick Basement: Tired of the same old cookie-cutter gifts? Head on over to The Brick Basement in Downtown Fullerton to find a gift for your loved ones that’s truly unique! Choose from a wide variety of handmade decor, jewelry, tea sets, handbags, furniture, and more from 25 different vendors. This antique mall in downtown Fullerton is truly the perfect place for finding a unique gift!
The Wonder Emporium: This toy store is the perfect place to shop for your kids this holiday season! Located only 15 minutes away from Fullerton in La Habra, this store sells toys for everyone from infants on up! Here, you can find things like board games, stuffed animals, arts and crafts, educational toys, and more. The extensive collection is sure to have something to make every kid happy!
Stitch + Feather: Do you have a special lady in your life? Then this boutique is the perfect place to shop! Full of not only trendy clothing and accessories but also things like makeup bags, mugs, coffee tables, and scented candles, this shop can be hard to resist! Located in downtown Fullerton, be sure to stop by and pick out a gift for all the special women in your life.
Opportunities to Share
There are so many people who don’t get to celebrate the holidays simply because they don’t have the resources to do so. If you are able, consider giving to the less fortunate this year for a heartwarming experience you will never forget.
OneOC: Did you know that the state of California alone has more than 161,000 homeless residents? That number isn’t pretty, but there’s still hope! By volunteering with OneOC, you can help those in need throughout Orange County. There are many opportunities available to help throughout the holidays and beyond. Click this link to find the right opportunity for you to help share the Christmas spirit with those in need this year.
Christmas Together 2023: This annual event hosted by Families Together of Orange County serves thousands of families in and around Anaheim by providing toys to underprivileged children in the community. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, December 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Anaheim Convention Center and is gearing up to give away 30,000 toys along with other entertainment. Christmas Together is a free event, but preregistration is required for admission and to receive a gift.
Safe Celebration
Did you know that each year, up to 7,400 fires are started because of household candles? That’s not good! As much as we all love a good holiday-scented candle, it’s important to be careful when lighting them in your apartment. Consider battery-powered candles, which can give you the same ambiance without the added danger of an open flame. If you do opt for real candles, be sure to never leave them unattended!
Unfortunately, candles aren’t the only fire hazard this time of year! Another one to be aware of is live Christmas trees. We all know how easily forest fires can start, and when you bring a piece of the forest into your home, the same principles apply. It’s very important to keep your tree watered, since dry pine needles are extra flammable. Also, be sure to keep all open flames away from the branches and turn all lights off when you’re not at home. Stay safe and enjoy the holidays!
With activities, performances, shopping, and opportunities to share, Fullerton, CA, has everything you need for a jolly season. From all of us at Highland Pinetree Apartments in Fullerton, CA, Happy Holidays!
